Film Photography Saved My Life

June 24, 2014 

Photo by Amol Purohit

April of 2013 I hosted my first film photography themed event at a local studio, Epiphany! Studios,  in celebration ofLomography‘s First Annual International Film Photography Day. I only had a month of breakneck preparation to put it all together, but I survived! The event brought together the community through an open-house style pin up photoshoot featuring three local models, Guest Photographer Tara of Tara O Photos, a photobooth by DragonLenz Imaging, a film and camera swap table, a DIY camera bag station, refreshments and a raffle featuring a Lomography Fisheye Mini camera and film. The event was a huge success and everyone who attended received a goodie bag with a disposable film camera, photography pins, cell phone charms, and gifts from Lomography.

Photo by Eric Molinar

From that fateful day I started hosting film photography meetups, photowalks and studio workshops every other month with a slowly growing group of creatives who were as excited and passionate about film and photography as I was. I still host these events today. We geek out over one another’s cameras, share our favorite shots, our film and even swap cameras sometimes. The comradery displayed in our group has been great and we always have a great time when we meet up.

Photo by Mary Ciesynski

Despite all of the craziness and stress I have experienced the past few years in my life, this photography club has been my saving grace, my silver lining, the something to look forward to at the end of an arduous work week. I’m constantly inspired by these guys (a few girls are interested in joining now too!) who I’ve come to consider my friends.

Together we are part of a movement I have named The Film Photography Revolution. An attempt to keep film photography alive in the face of discontinuations of film and the growing popularity of digital and phone photography. To quote Mattias Westfalk in the One Roll of Film documentary: “…we are shooting film. Not because it’s better. Not because it’s worse. Because it is what it is. And it’s the history of photography, something we all want to go back to.”

If you appreciate, love, collect or shoot film feel free to join the Film Photography Revolution, the more the merrier! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and our Blog. Plans to travel the US (and the world!) with our club and workshops are in the works! I’ll share more details as we plan our trips and I look forward to meeting you and shooting film with you soon!